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Bombardier to Supply 14 Additional Light Rail Vehicles to Manchester Metrolink in the UK

Posted: 5 August 2010 | Bombardier Transportation | No comments yet

Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe, to supply an additional 14 BOMBARDIER FLEXITY Swift light rail vehicles to GMPTE’s Metrolink system…

Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe, to supply an additional 14 BOMBARDIER FLEXITY Swift light rail vehicles to GMPTE’s Metrolink system...

Bombardier Transportation, together with consortium partner, Vossloh Kiepe, have signed an option to supply an additional 14 BOMBARDIER FLEXITY Swift light rail vehicles to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive’s (GMPTE’s) Metrolink system. This option forms part of the contract signed with GMPTE in April 2007 and is valued at 27 million £ (32 million euro, $ 43 million US) with Bombardier’s share amounting to approximately 20 million £ (24million euro, $ 32 milllion US).

Bombardier received its first order from GMPTE in April 2007 for 12 trams and this contract included an option for GMPTE to order up to 97 vehicles. The first option order for a further 28 light rail vehicles followed in June 2008, with a second option for 8 vehicles announced in March 2010. Today’s order for 14 vehicles brings the total number of trams ordered from the consortium for Manchester to date up to 62 light rail vehicles.

The manufacture of these vehicles will follow straight on from the ones currently being built for Manchester and the first of these additional 14 vehicles (tram 49) is scheduled to be delivered to Manchester in October 2011.

As consortium leader, Bombardier designs and manufactures the vehicles at its sites in Bautzen, Germany and Vienna, Austria. Bombardier’s Siegen plant is responsible for delivering the bogies and the consortium partner Vossloh Kiepe is providing the electrical equipment.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink Director, said: “We are pleased to be ordering a further 14 vehicles in addition to the trams already on order, and of course those that have now been delivered are successfully serving the existing Metrolink lines, playing an important part in making services more robust. This is a historic moment for Greater Manchester’s Metrolink network, as we’re expanding the system to be almost treble the size that it is today, and these new trams are a crucial part of delivering that project. I look forward to seeing our new vehicles arrive in due course.”

Colin S Walton, Chairman of Bombardier Transportation, UK, added: “We are delighted to 2/3 continue our long and successful partnership with GMPTE, helping to improve the attractiveness of public transport services in and around Manchester.”

“The fact that the GMPTE has placed yet another order with us proves that they are satisfied with the quality and service provided by Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe and underscores our capability as a provider of light rail solutions. We are proud to be able to deliver 14 more units and further speed up traffic in the busy conurbation of Greater Manchester,” commented Germar Wacker, President, Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation.

More than 1,500 FLEXITY vehicles from Bombardier are already in successful revenue service. Overall Bombardier now has more than 2,800 trams and light rail vehicles operating or on order in cities across Europe, Australia and North America. The 28.4 metre long light rail vehicles with a width of 2.65 metres offer a capacity for 200 passengers. Wide doubledoor entrances ensure a rapid passenger flow and multi-purpose areas provide space for pushchairs and wheel-chair users.